Overview
This animal's characteristics are very similar to the Okhotsk snow sheep, with less white on the forehead. It is just slightly smaller throughout most of its range than the Okhotsk snow sheep. This snow sheep is the most widely distributed overall. Snow sheep have compact, muscular bodies and relatively short legs (compared with other Asian sheep) that are adapted to climbing precipitous terrain. The coat is coarse and brittle, with each hair containing a sealed air pocket that serves as insulation. Hair texture is said to be quite different from that of North American sheep, being thick and woollike and becoming very long and shaggy in winter. The glands below the eyes are dark vertical skinfolds that protrude beyond the hair. Snow sheep have distinct rump patches, but do not have saddle patches, bibs or neck ruffs. The tail is broad and dark. The horns are homonymous, with the right horn growing in a right-handed spiral and left horn in a left-handed spiral, forming a tight curl of relatively small diameter. The horns are similar to those of the Dall and Stone sheep of North America, being brown or dark amber in color, fairly heavy and quite smooth, and with the frontal-orbital edge forming a prominent keel.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Ovis
- Species
- Snow sheep, nivicola
Habitat
They inhabit the upper forested zone to the limits of vegetation, a maximum altitude of 7,000 feet (2,000 meters). They prefer to winter on Southern slopes. The living conditions are severe in the winter. Temperatures can fall down to −76 °F (−60 °C) with harsh winds and prevalent snowfalls. The combined range of all susbspecies of Snow sheep covers an area almost twice that of the argali's range.
Diet
Consists primarily of grasses, but also of lichens, mosses, and willow sprouts.
Behavior
Older males form small groups and live separately until late autumn while the remaining animals form mixed herds. We know relatively little about snow sheep, but their habits are thought to be similar to those of Dall and Stone sheep. Like other pachyceriforms, snow sheep are classed as K-selected species, and have relatively low reproductive rates (one lamb after 170-180 days gestation) and long life spans (12-18 years). Females are believed to be sexually mature at 18 months, with the first lamb born at age two. Unlike other Asian sheep, they rarely have twins.
Hunting
The style of hunting will be spot and stalk backpack style hunts requiring lots of hard walking and lots of hours behind the glass. Being in great physical condition is a necessity. The season usually runs August-November, but the best time to hunt is in August.
Conservation Status
According to IUCN Red List, the most important action forward is to establish several reserves for conservation of the Yakutian subspecies in the Tuora-Siz range (Lower Lena river) and in the Chersky range.